Language selection

Search and menus

Search

Topics menu

You are here:

Arming Program of the Canada Border Services Agency

In 2006, the Government of Canada announced its decision to provide funding for training and equipping frontline employees of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) with firearms by March 2016.

Critical to this effort has been the Arming Program of the CBSA, which has set a high standard to ensure the safety of the public and its employees. We have designed a comprehensive Duty Firearm Course (DFC), customized to the duties and realities of frontline CBSA employees, which provides training on the safe use, handling, storage and transportation of the duty firearm as well as dealing with dangerous situations. The state-of-the-art arming training facilities at the CBSA College in Rigaud, Quebec, have further strengthened our capacity to deliver arming training.

Providing frontline employees of the CBSA with duty firearms enhances border security and helps protect our communities. It improves their effectiveness at the border by enabling them to have a broader range of options when responding to dangerous situations and to pursue enforcement activities to a greater extent.

The role of Agency's frontline employees has not changed with the introduction of the duty firearm. They continue to ensure the smooth flow of legitimate trade and travel while keeping Canada's border secure by assessing situations, using their skills, training, tools and good judgment.

The CBSA is implementing and developing the Arming Program in a safe and efficient manner, thereby ensuring that its front line is agile, well-equipped and continuing to deliver on the mandate of the Agency.